How My Sequel Hit #1 New Release on Amazon—and How Other Indie Authors Can Succeed Too: The Real Story (Gratitude, Stress, and Steps That Actually Work)

When I refreshed my Amazon page this morning and saw #1 New Release in Children’s Faeries Fantasy Fiction for Children, I had to sit down. Literally. My heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and for a moment I just stared at the screen like it might disappear if I blinked.

Evelyn Speckleplum: The Monarch’s Inferno—Book 2 in the series—had launched on January 22, 2026, and within days it was sitting at the top of its category with 5.0 stars from 18 early readers.

If you’re an indie author reading this, you know that feeling isn’t just joy. It’s also disbelief, relief, and a tiny voice whispering, “Is this real? Am I allowed to feel this good?”

I’m writing this post because I want to be honest about what it took to get here, how stressful and uncertain the process was, how grateful I am for every single person who helped make it happen, and—most importantly—how you can do the same.

If you’re an indie author who’s ever felt stuck, invisible, or like the odds are stacked against you, this is for you. You can succeed too. Here’s how it happened for me, and what steps you can take to make it happen for your book.

The Gratitude (Because None of This Happens Alone)

First, thank you.

To every reader who bought, or received an ARC copy, or read the first book and came back for more.

To the 18 people who left five-star reviews so far—your words mean more than I can say. They didn’t just help the algorithm; they reminded me why I write these stories.

To my tiny but mighty community on X (@D_GoldenConlin), my website readers, and anyone who shared a post, clicked an ad, or told a friend about Evelyn.

I’m also grateful for the grind itself. Grateful for the nights I wanted to quit, for the edits that felt impossible, for the doubt that forced me to make the sequel better, darker, and braver than Book 1.

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt invisible as an indie author—know that I see you. I’ve been there. Book 1 sat at 19 reviews after two years. That hurt. But it also taught me patience, persistence, and the truth that momentum builds slowly… until it doesn’t.

The Stress (Because Launch Week Is Brutal)

Let’s not sugarcoat it: launch week is terrifying.

I was refreshing KDP reports every hour, watching ad spend, panicking over every dip in rank, second-guessing keywords, categories, blurb wording—everything.

Should I do ads?

Would the early reviews stay positive?

Would anyone even notice the book existed?

And the worst part? The silence. Those first 48 hours when sales are slow and you wonder if you miscalculated everything. Indie publishing has no safety net—no big publisher team, no guaranteed shelf space. It’s just you, your story, and the algorithm.

If you’re in that anxious phase right now, I want you to hear this:

It’s normal.

It’s temporary.

And it’s worth it.

The Steps That Got Me Here (Real, Repeatable Advice So You Can Succeed Too)

Here’s what actually moved the needle for me—and what I believe can work for you too, no matter where you are in your indie journey.

1. Pick the right categories and keywords early

I targeted niche subcategories like Children’s Faeries Fantasy Fiction for Children and Middle Grade Fantasy & Magic where competition is lower but passionate readers exist.

→ Action for you: Use Publisher Rocket or Amazon’s own bestseller lists to find categories with fewer than 1,000–2,000 books ranked. Easier to hit #1 there than in broad “Children’s Fantasy.” Change categories anytime in KDP—test and adjust.

2. Run Amazon ads from day one

Sponsored Products targeting similar books/keywords were my biggest driver of early sales velocity.

→ Action for you: Start small ($5–10/day), monitor ACoS (aim under 70% for profitability), and scale what works. Keywords like “middle grade fey adventure” and “children’s faerie fantasy sequel” performed well for me—find yours.

3. Get reviews fast and ethically

I already had StoryOrgin in motion (waiting for approval) and a polite review ask in the back matter. Early honest reviews (especially 5-stars) build trust and help the algorithm push your book.

→ Action for you: Line up 10–20 ARC readers before launch ( Story Origin, BookSirens, your own network, or free swaps). Never buy reviews—Amazon catches it. Add a gentle ask at the end of your book: “If you enjoyed this, an honest review would help other readers discover it.”

4. Stack small wins for velocity

Consistent daily sales/reads in week one triggered the #1 badge. KU page reads helped too (enroll if you’re in Select).

→ Action for you: Don’t rely on one big promo. Layer: ads + social shares + newsletter + back-matter ask + occasional $0.99 or free day. Even 5–10 daily sales/reads can compound fast.

5. Be present and grateful publicly

Sharing the #1 moment on X and my site created a feedback loop—more shares, more clicks, more sales.

→ Action for you: Celebrate wins authentically. Post your rank screenshot, thank readers, and ask for shares. Readers root for indies who feel real.

You don’t need a huge budget or a massive following. You need consistency, targeted effort, and patience. I didn’t have any of this figured out perfectly—I just kept showing up. And you can too.

What’s Next for Me (and Maybe for You)

I’m keeping making social media content, pushing for more reviews, and outlining Book 3. The #1 badge won’t last forever, but the momentum it created will carry forward if I stay consistent.

If you’re an indie author reading this:

You’re allowed to be proud of what you’ve already done.

You’re allowed to feel scared.

You’re allowed to keep going.

Keep writing. Keep marketing. Keep believing your story matters.

If you’ve read The Monarch’s Inferno (or The Fey Realm), thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t, it’s available now on Amazon (link below). An honest review would mean the world—it helps other young readers discover Evelyn’s journey.

Here’s to more #1 moments—for all of us.

If you would like to read my new book, and leave a review that would be so helpful!

https://amzn.to/49aABxT

With gratitude,

D. Golden Conlin

Author of the Evelyn Speckleplum series

dgoldenconlin.com | @D_GoldenConlin on X